Ask An Expert

A: There may be a number of reasons why you notice spotting around or after ovulation. First of all, this is a midpoint of your cycle when the estrogen has primed your lining, but the progesterone hasn't started being produced yet. This temporary instability of your lining may cause a little menstrual-like debris to be shed. Second, the actual act of ovulation involves erosion of the ovarian capsule so that the follicle can pop, releasing the egg to be scooped up by the end of the fallopian tube. This eroding of the tissue may be through an area with small blood vessels that are torn with the opening of the follicle. Since the end of the tube is there to scoop up the egg, it may be getting a little of this bleeding into it as well, resulting in your spotting.

Midcycle is also a big change in hormones, and the cervix may be very delicate; the mechanical action of intercourse may cause the cervix to bleed a bit, which you're confusing with actual ovulation. All of these things are theoretically possible, but you'll never be able to know which one is the reason. But they're all pretty harmless, too.